Switch



Dec. 9, 1930.

E. N. JACOB] SWITCH Filed Oct. 25. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 iiwm AZJimizMWW.

E. N. JACOB! Dec. 9, 1930.

SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 25. 1928 Patented Dec. 9, 1930-EDWARD N. JAGOBI, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO BRIGGS AND STRAT-TON CORPORATION, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF DEI AWARESWITCH Application filed October 25, 1928. Serial No. 314,950.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inswitches of the type the provision of an improved especially designedto, bemounted at the lower end portion of an automotive vehicle steeringgear for operation from the upper end thereof through the medium of arod or other means and has, as an object the provision of an improvedand simplified construction whereby the over-all size of the switchproper is materially reduced without impairing its efiiciency. I

Another object of this invention resides in switch structure whereby adecided .detent action is obtained to indicate the respective positionsof the switch without necessitating the use of ball members, the detentaction being obtained in the switch mechanism per se.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an improvedswitch structure of the character described, in which the driving memberfor transmitting movement to the switch elements from the'operating rodor other means is a cup extended into the-switch casing and providedwith irregularities in its side wall forming the necessary drivingtongues whereby the necessity of extending driving tongues back into thecasing from a mem er exteriorally thereof is eliminated and aninherently stronger structure obtained. A further object of thisinvention resides I in the provision of an improved switch structurehaving an improved terminal head and mounting for the terminals.

And a still further object of this invention resides in the provision ofa switch of the character described having an improved mountingbracketand means. for connecting the same with the switch casing wherebyadded strength is imparted to the switch unit.

With the above andother objects in view which will appear as thedescription pro.- ceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it beingunderstood that such changes inthe precise embodiment of thehereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one complete example ofthe physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to thebest mode I have so far devised for the practical application of theprinciples thereof, and in which r Figure 1 is a view taken transverselythrough the switch structure embodying my invention, parts thereof beingin side elevation and parts in section;

Figure 2 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, takenthrough Figure 1 on the plane of the line 2-2;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the actuating member or'cup apart fromthe switch; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the switch cup or casingillustrating the manner of securing the same to its mounting bracket;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the member for providing the contactpressure and detent action;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the fiber contact carrying disc andthe contacts;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the terminal head;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the inner facing of the terminal head;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a slightly modifiedmanner of. mounting the terminals on the terminal head, and

Figure '10 is a fragmentary View, partly in section and partly inelevation, taken through Figure 9 on the plane of the line 10-10,

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, in whichlike numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, 5represents a switch housing or casing preferably of cup shape in whichthe switch instrumentalities, to be later decured to the bottom wall ofthe housing is preferably of a shape to substantially conform with thatof the housing bottom wall so that the same has the effective strengthof the bracket.

The bracket member 6 is adapted to be boltedor otherwise secured to thelower end of an automotive vehicle steering gear ele.-.

ment, not shown, one manner of mounting being illustrated and describedin my copending application filed Mayl3, 1927, Serial No. 191,080. Thebracket 6 has a central aperture 10 through which the lower end Of anactuating rod 11 extends, the rod being rotatably mounted in thesteering Column of the automotive vehicle, not shown, and havingsuitable lever or other actuating means, not shown, on its upper end.

The switch instrumentalities, now about to be described, are confinedwithin the housing 5, the open end of which is closed by a terminalcarrying head 12 of special construction secured in place by tongues orproj ections 13 extended from the peripheral edge of the housing 5 toengage in notches 14 of the terminal head and be directed thereover inthe manner illustrated in Figure 1. The

terminal carrying head is preferably formed of insulating material andhas on its inner face two elongated arcuate contacts 15 and a pluralityof smaller spaced contacts 16 arranged on a common are with the contacts15.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, each contact 15 has anend 17 extended through an opening 18 in the terminal head and thenstruck over the outer face thereof to firmly secure that end of thecontact to the terminal head, the other end portion of the contact beingpassed outwardly through an aperture 19 in the terminal head and havinga portion thereof struck from the outer face of the terminal head, as at20, to firmly clamp the contact to the terminal head, that portionthereof outwardly of the portion 20 forming a terminal member 21 for thereception of a conductor, not shown. Each contact 16 is formed from asingle blank and is substantially l. or angular shaped having tongues orprojections 22 extended from the shorter arm of the L which passinwardly through apertures 23 in the terminal head and are clinchedthereover with their outer end abutting to form the contact 16 andfirmly hold the terminal member 23 formed by the longer arm of the IL tothe terminal head 24.

It will be seen that the contact surfaces 15 and 16 are raised from theinner face of the terminal head proper and to assure a flusharrangement, a lining or facing 25, having a central aperture 26corresponding to the aperture 27 of the terminal head and havingelongated arcuate slots 28 and shorter arcuate slots 29 conforming tothe configuration of the contacts 15 and 16, respectively, is securedover the inner face of the terminal head 12 and the inner surfaces ofthe contacts 15 and 16 are then flush with the inner face of the member25, as best shown in Figure 1, so that the movable contacts,-to be laterdescribed, freely ride on to and off of the contacts 15 and 16 in themanner later described. ,7 The rod-11 passes through the switch unit asillustrated in Figure 1 andhas an actuator 3O fixed thereto whichconsists of ations 36 integral with the bracket memberand extended intoits opening 10 to limit the rotation of the cup, as will be readilyobvious.

The cup 33 is preferably stamped and is of irregular shape having theportion 37 near its marginal edge of true circular shape to conform withthe inner diameter of a flange 38 struck inwardly from the casingbottoinwall 9 concentric with the bracket opening 10 to provide a bearing forthe member and having its walls inwardly of the portion 37 so shaped asto provide projections 39- and 40 of differentwidthswhich'providevdriwing members for a fiber contact carrying disc 41having a central aperture 42 with which recesses 43 and 44 conformingwith the driving members 39 and 40, respectively, communicate, themember 33 conforming with the aperture 42, as best shown in Figure 2.From this structure it will be readily obvious that as the rod 11 isrotated the cup 33 retates therewith carrying the fiber contact disc 41.4

Mounted on the face of the fiber contact carrying disc 41 adjacenttheterminalcarrying head is a segmental member 45 having inwardly directedradial tongues 46 extended through slots 47 in the disc 41 andclampedover the opposite side thereof, as -at 48, to firmly secure thesegmental member thereto, said member having a plurality of tits orprojections 49 strucktherefrom to provide movable contacts adapted forengagement with the contacts 15 and 16 of the terminal carrying head.The disc 41 is free to move axially on the cup 33 but is held againstrotation with respect thereto by the driving member and is yieldablyurged at all times to engage the contacts 49 with the terminal carryinghead by a Washer or annular member 50 disposed between the contactcarrying disc 41 and the casing wall 9 by an expansile spring 51confined between the wall 9 and the. annular member. v

The member has a plurality of tits or projections 52 struck therefromand arranged on a common arc to register with a plurality of recesses orapertures 53 in the contact disc 41 and provide the necessary 'detentaction as the tits 52 ride in and out of the apertures 53. The member 50is free to move axially with respect to the cup member but is heldagainst rotative movement by beads or ribs 54 struck inwardly fromtheside wall of the casing 5 at diametrically opposite points and adaptedto engage in slots or openings 55 in the periphery of the member 50.

In Figures 9 and 10, a slightly modified form of terminal carrying headis provided wherein the necessity of forming the head in two layers iseliminated, the terminal member being clamped to thehead by lugs 56directed therethrough and the contacts 16 being formed by folding overan end portion 57 of the terminal member into a-recess 58 in theterminal head so that it is flush with the inner surface thereof.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings,

it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which aninvention of the character described appertains, that I have provided anovel and improved switch structure which, by reason of its design, isof reduced over-all dimensions, is of very rigid and durableconstruction and capable of produc tion at a'lower cost.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a switch mechanism, stationary contacts, a movable contactcarrying member having both axial and rotary movement with respect tothe stationary contacts, contacts carried by said member and adapted forengagement with the stationary contacts, a

pressure applying member engageable with the face of the contactcarrying member opposite the stationary contacts, means permitting axialmovement of the pressure applying member but restraining rotary movementthereof, and spring means at all times urging the pressure applyingmember toward the contact carrying member whereby con tact pressure isobtained between the movable and stationary contacts.

2. In a switch mechanism, stationary contacts, a movable contactcarrying member having both axial and rotary movement with respect tothe stationary contacts, contacts carried by said member and adapted forengagement with the stationary contacts, a pressure applyingmemberengageable with the face of the contact carrying member op positethe stationary contacts, means permitting axial movement of the pressureapplying member but restraining rotary movement thereof; spring means atall times urging the pressure applying member toward the contactcarrying member whereby contact pressure is obtained between-the mov-'able and stationary contacts, and projections extended from one of saidmembers and engageable in recesses in the other of said members toprovide a detent action indicating the relative positions of thecontacts.

connected with the contact carrying member whereby the contact carryingmember rotates therewith and is permitted axial movement thereon, apressure applying member mounted in the housing between the contactcarrying member and the closed end thereof, means permitting axialmovement of the pressure applying member but restraining the same fromrotary movement with respect to the housing, and a spring confinedbetween the closed end of the housing and the pressure applying memberwhereby the contacts of said contact carrying member are at all timesyieldably engaged with the registering contacts of the terminal carryinghead. r

4. In a switch mechanism, a substantially cup-shaped housing, a terminalcarrying a head closing the outer end of the housing, an actuator ofsubstantially cup shape rotatably confined within the housing, switchinstru .mentalities mounted within the housing and including a movablecontact carrying member, said actuator having a portion thereof ofirregular shape in transverse section, said contact'carrying memberhaving a central opening of irregular shape to conformwith the irregularportion of said cup-shaped member,whereby the switch carrying mem her isheld against rotation with respect to the actuator but is permitted alimited axial movement, and means yieldably urging the movable contactcarrying member toward the terminal carrying head.

( 5. In a switch mechanism, a substantially cup-shaped housing, aterminal carrying head closing the outer end of the housing, an actuatorof substantially cup shape rotatably confined within the housing, switchinstrumentalities mounted within the housing and including a movablecontact carrying member, said actuator having a portion thereof ofirregular shape in transverse sec tion, said contact carrying memberhaving a central opening of irregular shape to conform with theirregular portion of said cup limited axial movement, means yieldablyurging the movable contact carrying member toward the terminal carryinghead, a mounting bracket for the switch mechanism secured to the bottomof the housing and having an opening therein registering with an openingin the housing bottom, stops projected from the bracket into theopening, and projections extended from the actuator and cooperating withthe stops to limit the rotary movement of the actuator and consequentlythe contact carrying member.

6. A switch mechanism comprising a substantially cup shaped housinghaving an opening in its bottom wall, aterminal carrying head closingthe open end of the housing, switch instrumentalities mounted within thehousing including a substantially cupshaped member having its closedwall abutting the terminal carrying head, a tubular stem extended fromthe actuator outwardly of the casing to the terminal carrying head, anactuating rod for the switch passed through the opening in the casingbottom wall and through the actuator into the tubular stem, meansconnecting the rod with the stem whereby rotation thereof rotates theactuator, and means whereby rotation of the actuator actuates the switchinstrumentalities.

7. A switch mechanism comprising a substantially cup-shaped housinghaving an opening in its bottom wall, a terminal carrying head closingthe open end of the housing, switch instrumentalities mounted within thehousing, a mounting bracket for the housing, an actuator for the switchinstrumentalities including a substantially cup-shaped member having itsclosed wall abutting the terminal carrying head, a tubular stem extendedfrom the actuator outwardly of the casing to the terminal carrying head,an actuating rod for the switch passed through the opening in the casingbottom wall and through the actuator into the tubular stem, meansconnecting the rod with the stem whereby rotation thereof rotates theactuator, means whereby rotation of the actuator actuates the switchinstrumentalities, and cooperating means carried by the actuator and themounting bracket for limiting rotation of the actuator.

8. In a switch mechanism including a substantially cup-shaped casinghaving its bottom wall centrally apertured,-a terminal carrying headclosing the open end of the casing, switch instrumentalities mountedwithin the casing, a bracket member mounting the switch mechanism havinga portion fixed to the bottom of the cup shaped member to reinforce thesame, said bracket member having an opening registering with the openingof the casing, bottom wall, projections extended from the bracket memberinto the opening, an actuator rotatable in the casing and confinedbetween the terminal carrying head and the projections, and a driveconnection between the actuator and the switch instrumentalities.

9. In a switch mechanism including a substantially cup-shaped casinghaving its bottom wall centrally apertured, a terminal carrying headclosing the open end of the casing, switch instrumentalities mountedwithin the casing, a bracket member mounting the switch mechanism havinga portion fixed to the bottom of the cupshaped member to reinforce thesame, said bracket member having an opening registering with the openingof the casing bottom wall, projections extended from the bracket memberinto the opening, a substantially cup-shaped actuator of a lengthsubstantially equal to the distance between the bottom wall of thecasing and the terminal head with its closed end abutting the terminalcarrying head, and a drive connection between the actuator and switchinstrunientalities.

10. In a switch mechanism including a substantiallv cup-shaped casinghaving its bottom wall centrally apertured, a terminal carrying headclosing the open end of the casing, switch instrumentalities mountedwithin the casing, a bracket member mounting the switch mechanism havinga portion fixed to the bottom of the cup-shaped member to reinforce thesame, said bracket member having an opening registering with the openingof the casing bottom wall, projections extended from the bracket memberinto the opening, a substantially cupshapcd actuator of a lengthsubstantially equal to the distance between the bottom wall of thecasing and the terminal head with its closed end abutting the terminalcarrying head, a drive connection between the actuator and the switchinstrumentalities, and prongs extended from the actuator through theopening in the bracket member to cooperate with the said bracket memberprojections to limit the rotation of the actuator.

11. In a switch mechanism, a terminal carrying head of insulatingmaterial having a recess therein, a terminal member fixed to theterminal carrying head, and a part carried by said terminal memberpassed through an opening in the terminal carrying head and clinchedover to lie in the said recess with its inner face flush with the innerface of the terminal carrying head to form a contact surface.

12. In a switch mechanism, a terminal carrying head of insulatingmaterial, terminal members fixed to the outer face of the head, partscarried by the terminal members and extended through the terminalcarrying head and struck thereover to provide contacts, and an innerfacing for the terminal carrying head of a thickness substantially equalto the thickness of said contact portions and having til openingsconforming with the shape of said contact portions whereby the innerface of the terminal carrying face assembly and the contact portions aresubstantially flush.

13. In a switch mechanism, a housing, a movable contact carrying membermountedin the housing, a pressure applying member positioned within thehousing, cooperating means carried by the movable contact carryingmember and the pressure applying member for providing a detent action toindicate the rotative position of the movable contact carrying member,and inwardly pressed portions formed in the housing and engageable withthe pressure applying member for maintaining the same against rotation.

14. In a switch mechanism, a housing, a movable contact carrying member,a pressure applying member, means connecting the pressure applyingmember with the movable contact carrying member to retain the movablecontact carrying member in adjusted position,

said pressure carrying member having a reyieldably urging thenon-rotatable member cess formed in its periphery, and a projectionextended inwardly from the housing and engaged in the recess to restrainthe pressure applying member from rotation.

15. In a switch mechanism of the character described, a stationarycontact, a movable contact carrying member having both axial and rotarymovement with respect to the stationary contact, a contact carried bysaid member and adapted for engagement with the stationary contact, anon-rotatably but axially movable member, rounded projections extendedfrom one of said members and engageable in recesses in the other of saidmembers to provide a detent action to indicate the relative position ofthe contacts, and yieldable means-urging the non-rotatable member towardthe contact carrying member.

16. In a switch mechanism of the character described, a rotatablecontact carrying member, means for imparting rotation to the ro. tatablecontact carrying member, a non-rotatable but axially movable member, oneof said members having a plurality of circumferentially arranged equallyspaced rounded projections engageable in recesses formed in the other ofsaid members, and spring means toward the rotatable contact carryingmember whereby the engagement of the plurality of rounded projections insaid recesses provides a detent action for the movable contact carryingmember as it is rotated.

17 In a switch mechanism of the character from the non-rotatable memberand engageable in the recesses formed in the contact carrying member,and spring means yieldably urging the non-rotatable member toward thecontact carrying member whereby the rounded projectionsby engaging inthe contact carrying member recessesprovide a detent action and form asupport for the contact carrying member substantially about its entireperiphery.

18. In a switch mechanism of the character described, a rotatablecontact carrying member, means for rotating the same, said contactcarryingmember being formed of insulating material and having arelatively large number of depressions in one face thereof arrangedcircumferentially adjacent its periphery and equally spaced, anon-rotatable member stamped from bendablemetal and having. a number ofrounded projections directed toward the contact carrying member, saidrounded projections being equal in number to the depressions of the.contact carrying member and adapted to engage therein, and spring meansyieldably urging the non-rotatable member toward the contact carryingmember to maintain its projections in engagement with the contactcarrying member depressions.

19. In a switch mechanism, stationary contacts, a movable contactcarrying member having both axial and rotary movement with respect tothe stationary contacts, contacts carried by the said member and adaptedfor engagement with the stationary contacts, a

non-rotatable but axially movable pressure applying member engageablewith the contact carrying member, spring means at all times urging thepressure applying member toward the contact carrying member wherebycontact pressure is obtained between the IUD movable and stationarycontacts, and cooperating means carried directly by the contact carryingmember and the pressure applying member for providing a detent action toindicate the relative position of the contacts.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

EDWARD N. JAGOBI.

described, a rotatable contact carrying mem-

